Africa: Nile River system, Lake Albert, Semliki River, Lakes Victoria and Kyoga, Malawa and Aswa Rivers, Lake George, Lake Nabugabo, swampy lakes Kachira, Kijanebalola and Nakavali which lie between Lakes Edward and Victora; and rivers and lakes of Uganda including the Albert Lake drainage. Absent from Lake Turkana. Previously, two subspecies were recognized: Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae and Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor multicolor.